WORK OF MISS CLARA BARTON AND THE RED CROSS.
The Geneva Conference--Miss Barton's Work in the War of the
Rebellion--Organization of the American Red Cross--The Work in
Cuba--Appeal to the Public--A Floating Hospital--Correspondence
with Admiral Sampson--The Spanish Prisoners in Key West, and What
the Red Cross Did for Them.
Many attempts have been made to bring about an international
agreement for mitigating the horrors and mortality of battle. The
first successful movement of this kind was started at the same
time that the civil war was raging in the United States. A
conference of jurists and others interested in humanitarian work
was held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1863. They drew up an
international compact, which was approved by the Swiss government,
and the support and sanction of the French empire were won. It was
several years, however, before the articles of agreement were
signed by all the civilized nations of the world, and, strange to
relate, the United States was the last of the great powers to
officially recognize the rights to special protection secured to
the bearers of the Red Cross symbol.
In the autumn of 1881 a final effort was made to gain the
agreement of the United States to the stipulations of the
convention of Geneva, and assurances were given by President
Arthur of his willingness to accede. The President and the Senate
subsequently formally recognized the association, and the treaty
was signed March 16, 1882. Pending this action by the government,
a national society was formed and incorporated under the laws of
the District of Columbia, bearing the name of the American
Association of the Red Cross.
By this international treaty the Red Cross society is given
peculiar privileges in times of war, and its agents and officers
are permitted to carry on their work without hindrance from either
of the belligerents, but they are prohibited from having anything,
however remote, to do with military or naval operations. They deal
exclusively with the means provided to aid the wounded, relieve
the suffering, and care for the sick, in all of which the Red
Cross agents know neither friend nor foe. In case of a battle the
ambulances, surgeons and nurses of the society go upon the field
at soon as it is possible for them to do so and carry out the work
of mercy that has been undertaken.
The American society has been generous in extending its aid to
other countries in times of war, and during the Franco-Prussian
hostilities in 1870-71 it sent to Paris from its own funds
$120,000, while the French branch expended $2,500,000. Even the
Spanish branch contributed to the humanitarian work of that war in
the sum of $4,000. In the Turko-Russian, the Tunisian, the
Tonquin, the Madagascar, the Greeco-Turkish and several other wars
the Red Cross has carried on its work of mercy.
MISS CLARA BARTON.
When the war of the Rebellion begun Miss Clara Barton was a clerk
in the Patent Office in Washington. She resigned her position to
devote herself to the care of wounded soldiers on the field of
battle. In 1864 she was appointed by General Butler "lady in
charge" of the hospitals at the front of the Army of the James. In
1865 she was sent to Andersonville, Georgia, to identify and mark
the graves of Union soldiers buried there, and in the same year
was placed by President Lincoln in charge of the search for the
missing men of the Union army, and while engaged in this work she
traced out the fate of 30,000 men. In 1873 she inaugurated a
movement to secure recognition of the Red Cross society by the
United States government, and finally, during the administration
of President Arthur, she saw her labors rewarded. She naturally
became President of the American branch of the society, which was
founded in 1882, and she still holds that honored office.
WORK IN CUBA.
After Weyler's infamous order of reconcentration went into effect
the Red Cross society was not long in realizing that it had work
to do among the suffering people of Cuba. An appeal was made to
the public, and an expedition was dispatched to the island, with
Miss Barton at its head. In speaking of her work during that reign
of terror, Senator Proctor said in the course of his address to
the Senate:
"Miss Barton needs no endorsement from me. I have known and
esteemed her for many years, but had not half appreciated her
capability and her devotion to her work. I especially looked into
her business methods, fearing here would be the greatest danger of
mistake, that there might be want of system, and waste and
extravagance, but I found that she could teach me on all those
points. I visited the warehouse where the supplies are received
and distributed, saw the methods of checking, visited the
hospitals established or organized and supplied by her, saw the
food distributed in several cities and towns, and everything seems
to me to be conducted in the best possible manner."
When diplomatic relations were broken off between our country and
Spain, and the American consuls in Cuba were recalled, it was
deemed advisable that the representatives of the Red Cross then in
Cuba should come with them. Miss Barton and her assistants
returned to New York and immediately commenced the work of
preparation to follow our army into Cuba. The following appeal was
issued:
The American National Red Cross Relief Corps, acting under the
auspices of American National Red Cross, has for its objects the
collection of funds for providing medical and surgical attendance,
nursing, medical supplies, food, clothing, and such necessary
assistance as may be required by the American National Red Cross,
upon call of the United States government, in order to unify all
endeavors to that end during the present war.
Under the provisions of the Geneva conference, from which every
National Red Cross society derives its authority, the American
National Red Cross is directed to provide such relief as may be
required by all, without recognition of friend or foe, who may
suffer from the calamities incidental to war, pestilence or
famine.
The Red Cross here, and throughout the civilized world, by a wide
and varied experience in recent wars, recognizing by international
treaty the sacred obligations of helpfulness for the suffering,
wherever found, has so perfected its organization that it becomes
the recognized and legitimate channel for contributions from all
classes of individuals, and every variety of auxiliary
association.
For the purpose of properly systemizing the benevolent impulses of
the general public, and of giving proper direction of efficient
Red Cross work, the committee solicits the co-operation of
individuals and auxiliary associations throughout the country,
confident that through such means the various funds and articles
collected can most safely and most directly reach their ultimate
destination.
The steamer State of Texas was chartered and loaded with food,
medicines and hospital supplies, and headquarters were established
at Key West.
When Miss Barton joined the State of Texas at Key West on the 29th
of April, there seemed to be no immediate prospect of an invasion
of Cuba by the United States army, and, consequently, no prospect
of an opportunity to relieve the distress of the starving Cuban
people. Knowing that such distress must necessarily have been
greatly intensified by the blockade, and anxious to do something
to mitigate it--or, at least, to show the readiness of the Bed
Cross to undertake its mitigation--Miss Barton wrote and sent to
Admiral Sampson, Commander of the Naval Forces on the North
Atlantic Station, the following letter:
S. S. State of Texas, May 2, 1898.
Admiral W. T. Sampson, U. S. N., Commanding Fleet before Havana:
Admiral--But for the introduction kindly proffered by our mutual
acquaintance Captain Harrington, I should scarcely presume to
address you. He will have made known to you the subject which I
desire to bring to your gracious consideration.
Papers forwarded by direction of our government will have shown
the charge intrusted to me; viz., to get food to the starving
people of Cuba. I have with me a cargo of 1,400 tons, under the
flag of the Red Cross, the one international emblem of neutrality
and humanity known to civilization. Spain knows and regards it.
Fourteen months ago the entire Spanish government at Madrid cabled
me permission to take and distribute food to the suffering people
in Cuba. This official permission was broadly published. If read
by our people, no response was made and no action taken until two
months ago, when, under the humane and gracious call of our
honored President, I did go and distribute food, unmolested
anywhere on the island, until arrangements were made by our
government for all American citizens to leave Cuba. Persons must
now be dying there by hundreds, if not thousands, daily, for want
of the food we are shutting out. Will not the world hold us
accountable? Will history write us blameless? Will it not be said
of us that we completed the scheme of extermination commenced by
Weyler?
Fortunately, I know the Spanish authorities in Cuba, Captain-General
Blanco and his assistants. We parted with perfect friendliness. They do
not regard me as an American merely, but as the National representative
of an international treaty to which they themselves are signatory and
under which they act. I believe they would receive and confer with me if
such a thing were made possible.
I should like to ask Spanish permission and protection to land and
distribute food now on the State of Texas. Could I be permitted to
ask to see them under a flag of truce? If we make the effort and
are refused, the blame rests with them; if we fail to make it, it
rests with us. I hold it good statesmanship at least to divide the
responsibility. I am told that some days must elapse before our
troops can be in position to reach and feed these starving people.
Our food and our forces are here, ready to commence at once. With
assurances of highest regard, I am, Admiral,
Very respectfully yours,
[Signed] CLARA BARTON.
At the time when the above letter was written, the American Red
Cross was acting under the advice and direction of the State and
Navy Departments, the War Department having no force in the field.
Admiral Sampson replied as follows:
U. S. Flagship New York, First Rate, Key West, Fla., May 2, 1898.
Miss Clara Barton, President American National Red Cross:
1. I have received through the senior naval officer present a copy
of a letter from the State Department to the Secretary of the
Navy; a copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the
Commander-in-Chief of the naval force at this station; and also a
copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the commandant
of the naval station at Key West.
2. From these communications it appears that the destination of
the S. S. State of Texas, loaded with supplies for the starving
reconcentrados in Cuba, is left, in a measure, to my judgment.
3. At present I am acting under instructions from the Navy
Department to blockade the coast of Cuba for the purpose of
preventing, among other things, any food supply from reaching the
Spanish forces in Cuba. Under these circumstances it seems to me
unwise to let a ship-load of such supplies be sent to the
reconcentrados, for, in my opinion, they would be distributed to
the Spanish army. Until some point be occupied in Cuba by our
forces, from which such distribution can be made to those for whom
the supplies are intended, I am unwilling that they should be
landed on Cuban soil.
Yours very respectfully,
[Signed] W. T. SAMPSON, Rear-Admiral U. S. N.
Commander-in-Chief U. S. Naval Force, North Atlantic Station.
After this exchange of letters Miss Barton had a conference with
Admiral Sampson, in the course of which the latter explained more
fully his reasons for declining to allow the State of Texas to
enter any Cuban port until such port had been occupied by American
troops.
On the 3d of May Miss Barton sent the following telegram to
Stephen. E. Barton, Chairman of the Central Cuban Belief
Committee, in New York:
Key West, May 3, 1898.
Stephen E. Barton, Chairman, etc.:
Herewith I transmit copies of letters passed between Admiral
Sampson and myself. I think it important that you should present
immediately this correspondence personally to the government, as
it will place before them the exact situation here. The utmost
cordiality exists between Admiral Sampson and myself. The Admiral
feels it his duty, as chief of the blockading squadron, to keep
food out of Cuba, but recognizes that, from my standpoint, my duty
is to try to get food into Cuba. If I insist, Admiral Sampson will
try to open communication under a flag of truce; but his letter
expresses his opinion regarding the best method. Advices from the
government would enable us to reach a decision. Unless there is
objection at Washington, you are at liberty to publish this
correspondence if you wish.
[Signed] CLARA BARTON.
On May 6 the Chairman of the Central Cuban Relief Committee
replied as follows:
Washington, D. C,, May 6, 1898.
Clara Barton, Key West, Fla.:
Submitted your message to President and Cabinet, and it was read
with moistened eyes. Considered serious and pathetic. Admiral
Sampson's views regarded as wisest at present. Hope to land you
soon. President, Long, and Moore send highest regards.
[Signed] BARTON.
Under these circumstances, of course, there was nothing for the
Red Cross steamer to do but wait patiently in Key West until the
army of invasion should leave Tampa for the Cuban coast.
Meanwhile, however, Miss Barton had discovered a field of
beneficent activity for the Red Cross in Key West, where there
were nearly 200 Spaniards, mostly fishermen, prisoners on vessels
captured while running the blockade, and without means of
subsistence. Most of these unfortunate men lived on fish after
they were captured and none of them had a chance to obtain other
food, as under the law they were not permitted to leave their
vessels. The naval officers had no authority to supply the
captives with food from the ships in the harbor, so their lot was
far from being enviable.
When Miss Clara Barton received word of their plight she sent Dr.
Egan, the chief medical officer of the expedition, with several
attendants, around among the fleet of prizes to distribute food.
On one of the larger smacks Dr. Egan found that the crew had had
nothing but fish to eat for several days. The well in the boat, in
which there were hundreds of live fish, contained also a large
number of dead ones, which were putrefied and were rapidly
polluting the living ones. The physician immediately ordered the
dead fish removed and fresh water pumped into the well. He then
furnished bread, potatoes and salt meat to the crew, so that, the
continuity of Friday diet might be changed.
The Red Cross relief boats made a complete and accurate list of
the Spanish prizes in the harbor--twenty-two in all--with the
numerical strength of every crew, the amount of provisions, if
any, on every vessel, and the quantity and kind of food that each
would require. This was at once provided, and thus almost the
first work done by the Red Cross in our war with Spain was the
feeding of representatives of a nation that had forced us into war
mainly because of its policy of starvation of the people of Cuba.
On the morning of June 20, the Red Cross steamer State of Texas
left Key West for Santiago, stocked with food and medicines, and
having on board Miss Barton, Mr. Kennan, and a complete working
force of doctors and nurses. They were warmly welcomed on their
arrival on Cuban shores, and the State of Texas was the first
American ship to enter the harbor of Santiago after the surrender.
The Red Cross has done a grand work on many battlefields in every
quarter of the globe, but never has it rendered more efficient aid
to suffering humanity than it did on the southern shores of the
island of Cuba. On the battlefield, braving the bullets of the
foe, in the hospitals, ministering to the wants of the wounded and
the dying, among the wretched non-combatants, giving food to the
starving, and nursing the fever-stricken refugees, these noble men
and women were ever ready to answer to the cry of the needy and
the helpless.